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Thousands of Zaria residents at the weekend, protested against what they called `fraud, intimidation and over billing of consumers by Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) and threatened legal action against the company.

Addressing newsmen in Zaria, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, said the protest and court action became necessary following issuance of notice letter recently issued to the consumers by the company within Zaria metropolis.

According to Mustafa, “We have received a notice from the company titled: Demand Letter and Notice of withdrawal of electricity supply to your Premises which is intimidating, and an attempt to defraud the consumers’’.

Mustafa who quoted the notice letter said the notice was part of the continuous exploitation and intimidating attitude of the company to the teaming consumers in Zaria.

He read the said notice as; “Notice is hereby given that in accordance with provisions of regulations 5(1), (a)-(f) of National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Order on connection and disconnection procedure of 2007, the supply of electricity to your premises at A/C/-shall be withdrawn within 10 days from date of services of this notice. This is following your failure and refusal to pay the outstaying arrears’’.

The letter added that, “Furthermore, take notice that failure to pay the outstanding amount as quoted above within this period of this notice shall not only result in the withdrawal of electricity services but as well as entitled the company to commence recovery proceedings against you in a Court of Competent jurisdiction without further notice or warning to you’’.

The Company notice was signed by an employee on behalf of the management and copied to Police DPOs, Community leaders and local government chairpersons.

Mustafa argued that, there has never been a reliable measurement of electricity consumption by the customers as the company only charged by over estimation sometimes writes with biro the amount they want a consumer to pay.

“No meter to measure our consumption, we have requested severelly for a Pre –paid Meter yet we could not get, but the company is asking us pay millions of Naira outstanding debt. This is a clear case of fraud, and cheating which cannot be found anywhere in the world except in Nigeria’’.

According to him, Zaria’s experience is worst supply of electricity more than other cities in Nigeria which makes other business impossible to yield any positive profits.

“In fact some places in Zaria spend two to three days without electricity, yet the company brings a bill to you, which means we are paying for a product not consumed? It is a fraud indeed.’’ He said.

The spokesman however said, the residents have concluded arrangement with team of lawyers to sue the company for defrauding and intimidation, as well resolved not make any further payment of any outstanding debt until the company produces meters for them.

He expressed disappointment with the President Muhammadu Buhari for his inability to reverse the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by Jonnathan administrations before clinching power in 2015.

He therefore appealed to Nigerians to continue protesting against the attitude of electricity Distribution Companies who make life difficult for Nigerian citizens.

Reacting, the Company’s Commercial Manager in Zaria, Alhaji Kabiru Abdulsalam, said the company was not out to punish any customer with the notice, but to spur them to pay their outstanding bills.
According to him, “let me tell those that are complaining about the notice letter we issued that the notice was meant to ginger customers to pay all outstanding bill, not to punish anybody, despite the NERC law on connection and disconnection of electricity Supply’’.

He said recent investigations by the company in Zaria revealed that only 40 per cent of consumers are trying to pay their outstanding debt while remaining 60 are still reluctant. Therefore, we must find ways to recover our money. Most of the debts are owed by customers on estimation bill which we inherited from former PHCN.’’

On meter, the Commercial Manager said, the federal government had recently made a position on it by promising to provide the meters to the customers soon.

“It is also important to note that, we are in the business of distributing electricity receive from suppliers, so we cannot speak on why we are not getting electricity in Zaria. I think it is a general problem’’. He explained.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to address the “unnecessary killings” in Kaduna.

The body was on a congratulatory visit to Aso Rock where they also urged the President to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity.

CAN president, Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, was the leader of the delegation which comprised the executive council of the association, in a closed-door meeting with the president at the council chamber of the statehouse on Friday, Thecablereports.

“This delegation has come on behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria (the largest Christian Association in Africa) to congratulate you for victory and for being declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the just concluded 2019 Presidential Election in our nation,” said the CAN president.

“Our prayer for you is that God shall grant you everything it takes to perform hundred times better than your first term. We pray that your administration would lead Nigeria to become the glory and pride of the nations in Africa and a country many people would desire to be, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

“Please count on this organization as one that has the success of your administration at heart. In that respect, we would not cease in praying for you and speaking out about what is expected to be done from time to time in keeping with the Bible, the word of God.”

CAN seized the opportunity to highlight the issue of schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.

“We solicit passionately for deliberate and relentless effort to free Leah Sharibu and other Chibok girls from captivity,” Ayokunle said.

“Each passing day inflicts anguish in the hearts of the parents of this young girl, the rest of us who are parents, all Nigerians and others all over the world who love freedom and regret that Leah’s life is being wasted in captivity for no sin of hers other than for her religion. Doing all within you to free Leah Sharibu and according it top priority shall confer greater credibility on your government and on you as a person.

“Please and please, Mr. President, let Leah Sharibu and those in captivity of insurgents be freed to enjoy their lives.”

Ayokunle, commenting on the recent bloodshed in parts of the country especially the north-east, said: “While we are thanking you for all your efforts at putting an end to bloodshed in the nation, we urge you to task the security agents to be more alive to their responsibilities by putting an end to insurgency, ethnic violence, kidnapping and herdsmen’s atrocities prevalent in our nation. Today, the north-west of Nigeria which used to be peaceful is also witnessing violent activities.

“The unnecessary killings in Kaduna and the detention of some leaders of Ajara chiefdom in Kaduna state since January should be addressed without delay to douse tension. All efforts today by all of us should be geared towards forgiving one another and reconciling with one another.”

Ayokunle also pleaded with the president to constitute a cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals.

“We were so happy listening to your speech after your re-election that you were going to run an all inclusive government. Having been re-elected President, you have become the President of all. In view of this, we urge you to see yourself as father to all by embracing all,” he said.

“We solicit for inclusiveness and fairness as you constitute your cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals.

“Your Excellency, there is no ethnic or religious group in Nigeria where you cannot find highly qualified men and women that you can engage to add value to your administration and help in moving the nation forward. This is the true and objective way in which you can give all in the country, a sense of belonging.”

Kaduna state police command has revealed that a combined team of soldiers and mobile policemen have been deployed to Nandu Gbok community in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna where gunmen killed nine persons and burnt down over 30 houses on Saturday Morning.

Yakubu Sabo, the spokesman of Kaduna state Police command, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday said the deployment of troops to the community and its environs is to forestall any further break down of law and order.

He also revealed that efforts are being intensified to apprehend the attackers with a view of bringing them to justice.

He, therefore, appeal to residents of the affected community not to take laws into their hands but allow justice to take its course.

It was reported that gunmen had in the hours of Saturday attacked Nandu Gbok community in Sanga local government area of the state.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai while commiserating with the families of the victims, said his administration in partnership with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions will continue to work towards sustainable peace.

He added that security agencies have been deployed in the area, and the State Emergency Management Agency has been directed to immediately provide relief materials to the affected community.

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed 10 persons in Nandu -Gbok village, Sanga local government area of Kaduna state.

The assailants also set at least 30 houses on fire in the incident which happened in the early hours of Saturday, TheCable reports.

In the last one week, attacks in communities in Kajuru local government area of the state have claimed over 100 lives and left many people displaced.

A source told TheCable that men armed with guns, machetes and sticks laid siege on the community around 4am.

“We were woken up by heavy gunshots, there was confusion, everybody was running to the bush. They set houses ablaze,” the source said.

“Ten people were killed, some people were burnt to death, many others were injured, some people are still missing.”

Shehu Garba, member representing Sanga/Jama’a federal constituency of Kaduna in the house of reps, confirmed the attack.

“We woke up this morning to the sad news of an attack by gunmen on Nandu Gbok, a community in Sanga LGA of Kaduna state,” he said.

“About 10 bodies have been recovered and about 30 houses confirmed burnt down. “That the latest attack is coming while we are mourning and trying to deal with the devastating massacre wrought on the Adara People (in Kajuru LGA) has, once again, brought to the fore the plight of the indigenous people of Southern Kaduna.”

He said the Sanga local government chairman and other stakeholders were assessing the situation.

While condoling the families of the victims, Garba appealed to communities in the area to remain calm and not to contemplate any reprisal actions.He appealed to security agencies in the state to reinforce in Sanga, especially in the affected community with the aim of stopping further attack and fishing out the perpetrators.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has declared that he is not in hospital coma, saying his driver is not dead as been speculated.

There was mild speculation that the governor involved in a fatal road accident. But on his official Facebook page, el-Rufai wrote: “I woke up after a rare 8-hour bout of deep sleep to learn that some bigotry-driven, PDP-affiliated fake news platform has declared my driver dead and my humble self in coma. Both claims are false.

“I thank them for reducing the days in their lives and adding them to mine.

I remain their permanent nightmare and not about to disappear from their wretched and corrupt lives any time soon by the Grace of Almighty Allah, until they are permanently retired and buried. – Nasir @elrufai,” the governor said.